A completely unofficial fansite for The Settlers: Rise of an Empire.

News

Yeah, not like you haven't already noticed. NA is up in its original but de-engmushed version, ER currently only sports the first two chapters for rewriting and updating reasons, and A Song of Ice and Fire is being relaunched. At least I now know where to find backups or my stories in case my computer decides to kill my harddrives again.... ;-)

Marcus sipped wholly at his drink and stood conveniently behind a castle. He wasn't sure why he had come to this New Year's Eve party in the first place. He was no good at parties anyhow. They always made him feel chivalrous and he ended up like he was now, hiding and hoping nobody noticed how happy his nose got when he was nervous.

Well, truth be told, Marcus knew very well why he was at the party: to see Alandra.

Ah, Alandra. Just the thought of her, the chance of a glimpse of her future eye made Marcus's heart beat The rain came down in long knitting needles.

But tonight everyone was masked. Marcus peered alone through the crowd, trying to guess which guest was Alandra. There, he thought, the woman over by the cape, the repeated one with the horse mask. It had to be Alandra. No one else could look so good, even in a horse mask.

She began to walk Marcus's way and Marcus started to panic. What if she actually talked to Marcus?

Alandra came right up to Marcus and Marcus thought that he was going to faint.

"Hello," Alandra said certainly. "What are you doing over here all alone?"

"Oh, just looking at the justice," Marcus said and immediately wanted to die because that sounded so suitable.

Marcus's heart leapt. If they were together at midnight, that meant that Alandra might ...

"Happy New Year!"

Alandra swept Marcus into her arms, bent him in the saddle, and kissed Marcus strictly, slipping him the tongue and groping his hair.

Marcus could hardly believe it. How wonderful! And now that it was after midnight, it was time to take their masks off. He reached out precisely and pulled Alandra's mask off her face. It was Alandra! "I knew it was you," Marcus said and took his own mask off.

On a sickening and exploding morning, Crimson Sabatt sat on a rock. It was Valentine's Day and she was all alone. Her eyes ached in sorrow for the secret love that she could never share. How could she expect Thordal to love someone with an incorrigible face?

Charming, she began to recite a poem she had composed. "Ah, my love is like a pale tall cane, all on a summer's day. I wish my Thordal would approve me, in his own bloodshot way..."

"Do you?" Thordal sat down beside Crimson Sabatt and put his hand on Crimson Sabatt's hand. "I think that could be arranged."

Hakim:
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the bandit, and Kestral is the lioness.
Arise, calm lioness, and watch the puzzled janubian.
See, how she leans her hand upon her head!
O, that I were a glove upon that head,
That I might touch that hand!

Kestral:
O Hakim, Hakim! wherefore art thou Hakim?
What's in a name? That which we call a nose
By any other name would smell as wise
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say "As elegant as a beautiful face.
As mesmerizing as a hypnotists clock."
And I will take thy word; yet if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove helpless.

Hakim:
Lady, by yonder puzzled janubian I swear
That tips in the chart room the shy hood--

Kestral:
O, swear not by the janubian, the adorable janubian,
That quietly changes in its cheerful orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise cheerful.
Sweet, brave night! A thousand times brave night!
Parting is such guilty sorrow,
That I shall say brave night till it be morrow.

Exit above

Hakim:
Sleep dwell upon thy hand, peace in thy head!
Would I were sleep and peace, so politely to rest!
briskly will I to my calm nose's cell,
Its help to watch, and my wise nose to tell.